Across the Region |

Union County has loosened its water restrictions to allow customers to wash their cars on days other than their assigned irrigation day.

Under restrictions adopted in August, Union's 39,000 water customers could wash their cars one day a week depending on their geographic location. Outdoor use of water was forbidden on Saturdays and Sundays, part of an effort to reduce the peak demand on the county's limited water infrastructure.

Under the change adopted Monday by the county commissioners, customers may now wash their vehicles on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as their assigned irrigation day.

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Commissioner Lanny Openshaw said the change was made in response to frustrated customers whose work schedules permitted them to wash their cars only on weekends.

County Manager Al Greene said the change should not adversely affect the water supply because it applies only to car washing.

Details: Union County Public Works, 704-296-4210 or visit www.co.union.nc.us.

Mike Torralba

Meck briefs

Charlotte

Mecklenburg County is mailing information to about 150 property owners affected by floods in August and September to determine whether their structures are eligible for a new buyout program approved by county commissioners earlier this week.

Officials said the letters are not an offer to buy the property, nor a guarantee it will be eligible for the buyout program. Rather, property owners who receive them are asked to call the Storm Water Services department at 704-432-5574 by Sept. 26 to see if their property qualifies.

Staff will conduct an assessment of properties, and could decide as early as October which ones qualify for the buyout program.

The county has said it could buy up to 50 properties, mostly single-family homes. The buyouts are voluntary and owners won't be forced to sell.

April Bethea

Regional briefs

Forsyth County Kernersville

A police officer used a Taser on a student at East Forsyth High School on Tuesday after the student made a threatening gesture at the officer, police said.

The officer, who was working as a school resource officer, had broken up a fight between three students in the school's courtyard near the cafeteria, said Lt. Ken Gamble of the Kernersville Police Department. A group of students did not comply with the resource officer's order, Gamble said, and a male student then cursed at the officer. When the student took a fighting stance and appeared aggressive toward the officer, a Taser was used on the student, he said.

The student who was subdued had minor injuries to his hand and back, Gamble said. The student's name was not released.

Associated Press

Cumberland County Fayetteville

A judge has refused to dismiss animal cruelty charges against a former Fayetteville police officer who is accused of burying eight puppies alive.

The former officer was accused of burying the puppies in September 2007.

Associated Press

South Carolina Charleston

Citadel cadets are now a bit more like other college students and can take naps during their free time.

Commandant of Cadets Greg Stone says an internal review found cadets need more chance to rest, especially freshmen, who must adjust to a grueling military training program and challenging academics. The military college changed a policy that prohibited cadets from sleeping during their free time.

The new policy also allows cadets who want to go to bed early to avoid the 11 p.m. knock at the door to make sure they're in their rooms. Cadets can place a red card on their door indicating they don't want to be disturbed.

Stone said the idea is to make sure cadets get seven uninterrupted hours of sleep each night.

Unlike other college students, cadets at the state military college adhere to a 24-hour schedule, taking classes, studying and participating in military drills, he added.

Associated Press

Police digest

Mecklenburg County Charlotte

Police say a woman escaped injury overnight when she discovered an intruder in her south Charlotte apartment.

It happened at an apartment in the 8500 block of Winter Oaks Lane, off Sharon Road West.

Police say the resident arrived home after midnight. After being home for a while, she went into her bedroom and saw a man crouching there.

The woman rushed into a bathroom and locked the door, police say. A short time later, the intruder escaped from the apartment after stealing the woman's purse. Police say they determined that the suspect got into the apartment through a sliding glass window.

Steve Lyttle

Gaston County Cherryville

Authorities have charged a Cherryville man after a 91-year-old woman confronted by an intruder in her house scared him away when she activated an emergency response system, Cherryville police said.

Authorities charged the man in that case and another residential break-in on Wednesday morning.

Chad Wayne Bumgarner, 38, of Cherryville was charged with two counts of first-degree burglary and two counts of injury to personal property, authorities said.

Bumgarner was being held in the Gaston County Jail under $150,000 secured bond.

According to Lt. Mike Allred Sr., the elderly woman reported that about 5 a.m. on Tuesday, a man wearing a ski mask and gloves broke into her house on East Church Street and asked for $40.

Joe DePriest

Rowan County Kannapolis

Rowan County District Attorney Bill Kenerly will decide in the next few weeks whether charges will be filed in the Wednesday shooting death of a 67-year-old Kannapolis man.

Larry Clyde Adams Sr. was shot in the backyard of his home in the 200 block of West 21st Street. Kannapolis Police said Johnny Ray Canupp Jr., 20, of Burke Street in Kannapolis, told them he accidentally shot Adams, a longtime friend.

Police were called to the home about 6 p.m. and found Adams dead from a gunshot wound.

It might be at least two weeks before the State Bureau of Investigation is finished with lab tests on the small-caliber handgun, authorities said. Kenerly said he needs to have those test results before reaching a decision on any charges.